Portfolio

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The 4-H portfolio is required for all 4-H livestock projects in Summit County. It is a great tool to help youth keep records of their animals and what they have learned!

There have been significant changes to the 4-H portfolio at the state level. I hope the changes will make it easier to complete portfolios we get used to them! We will be having a couple portfolio workshops to go over changes this summer.

The 4-H portfolio is divided into eight sections using green divider sheets. These “green sheets” contain current portfolio instructions. They can be obtained from the 4-H Office. In 2009 we will have a new version of the “green sheets.” Please discard old versions and begin using new forms. These new forms will be reused each year.

Within each section there are white sheets for youth to fill out. Youth need to add to each section each year. You can get a copy of these forms at the 4-H Office or on line at this website or at http://utah4h.org/htm/general-forms/portfolios. Just go to the website, download the forms, and save them to your computer. Youth can type directly onto the portfolio pages and save their work. Microsoft Word, Word Perfect, PDF, and RDF versions are available.

The 4-H Office will have portfolio forms available on a CD.

Instructions for each section are located on the back of each green sheet, but here are some additional tips for each section:

Portfolio Title Page This is a green sheet. Slip this into the front cover of your binder.

Portfolio Entry Form Complete a new form each year. Do not include forms from past years. This should be the first thing I see when I open your portfolio binder.

Section 1—Project Report Form:Include a new project report form for each project each year. Include forms from previous years, with the newest form on top. You will notice that this section has been simplified.

If youth do more than one 4-H project per year, sort project report forms by project, then by year. Use Section 1 Divider Forms (new in 2009) to separate projects. (Example: All livestock forms together with newest on top, then all sewing forms together with newest on top.)

Sections 2-6: In these sections, the idea is to add to the bottom of last year’s form. Since we have new forms in 2009, there are two options. Youth can keep the 2008 form in and add a 2009 form behind it, or youth can transfer information to the new form.

Section 7—My 4-H Story: Major changes. In the past, youth wrote a new story (up to 6 pages) each year and reflected back on previous years in 4-H. From now on, youth will write up to 1 page front and back about the current year in 4-H. They will keep old stories in their book and place the new one on top. For 2009, place the 2008 story in the binder, and then the 2009 story on top. Youth do not need to include any stories before 2008.

Section 8—4-H Photographs: Major changes. In the past, youth included up to 3 pages front and back of photographs to describe experiences through their years in 4-H. From now on, youth will add up to 1 page front and back of photographs with captions each year. Youth will keep old photo pages in their book and place the new one on top. For 2009, place the 2008 photographs in the binder and then the 2009 photographs on top.

Copy and use the official 4-H photographs page. Pages should include captions for each picture, but not "scrapbook" type additions (stickers, cute paper, etc). Each year should include a variety of pictures that reflect each project, as well as leadership and community service involvement.